§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals to increase the range of aids available under the Manpower Services Commission's special aids to employment scheme.
§ Mr. LeeThe aim of the special aids to employment scheme is to supply any tools or equipment that are needed to overcome the effects of any disability in the employment field. Consequently, there is no limit to the range of aids that can be considered under the scheme.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals to publicise more widely the aids currently available under the Manpower Services Commission's special aids to employment scheme.
§ Mr. LeeThe special aids to employment scheme is already publicised widely by the Disablement Advisory Service and staff at jobcentres, through the code of good practice on the employment and disabled people, videos, leaflets, liaison with employers and voluntary organisations, and direct contact with individual people with disabilities. There are no plans to publicise individual items available under the scheme, but examples are quoted in leaflets.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment is made of the suitability of aids issued under the special aids to employment scheme for the needs of the recipients.
§ Mr. LeeThe aim is to provide the most cost-effective suitable device which a person with a disability needs to do the job. Assessment of the appropriate aid for the purpose is made by staff of the Disablement Advisory Service in consultation with individual worker, the employer, the manufacturer, and technical and medical guidance and support as necessary.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many aids provided under the Manpower Services Commission's special aids to employment scheme in the last five years were issued to people categorised as(a) deaf without speech, (b) deaf with speech and (c) hard of hearing.
§ Mr. LeeThe figures showing the number of aids issued under the special aids to employment scheme to the three categories of people with hearing impairment are only readily available for the latest two and a half years (April 1985 to October 1987):
228W
Numbers (a) Deaf without speech 97 (b) Deaf with speech 248 (c) Hard of hearing 347
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average length of time between receipt of an application for equipment under the Manpower Services Commission's special aids to employment scheme and the date the equipment was delivered.
§ Mr. LeeThere are no figures available on the average length of time between receipt of the application for equipment under the special aids to employment scheme and the date the equipment was obtained. Typically, the period can vary from a few days to several weeks depending on the complexity of the case and the availability of the equipment.